What makes it harder is the ease of buying “legal” documents on the black market, so even if one does have a SS card, or a Naturalization card or even a green card, does not mean they are legal.

How does one know the families living next door are illegal? That is all I wanted to know. The you wasn’t YOU per say….

Perhaps if you understood a little about my experiences you would understand better why I asked.

My own work background involves huge numbers of hispanics where illegal vs legal is a non issue. Don’t ask dont tell environment. My mental categorizing is totally different than most folks on here. Not better, not worse, just different.

I also have not had neighborhood issues. Up until very recently I have lived between either Mormon families or a family that has lived in their house since Hurricane Agnes. I now have a new neighbor. I am not really sure who lives over there. They dont bother me and their yard looks a lot better than mine at the moment. No chickens, loud parties or anti social behavior at all.

So I wanted to know how ONE tells if one is legal or illegal. Perhaps there was something out there I didn’t know because I hadn’t inivestigated it at all.

One of those things I have not needed to know…so I asked.

Dolph said on 29 Jul 2007 at 11:10 pm:
COM,

Serious question here. How do you know the families living next door to you are illegal?

Dolph

I truly do not know how to make you understand that I wasn’t attacking you, questioning your credibility, or whatever you chose to read into my question. I have given it my best shot. Now I simply don’t give a rat’s rear end if you think it was an all out assault with a nuclear weapon. You have taken a 1 and turned it into a 10.

Now it is time to take your meds. I dont have the temperament for these silly, attention-seeking games over something so unimportant. I repeat: I got the answer to my question. I now know what to look for. Please do not bring this up to me again.

OMG, why is this issue taking on a life of its own? I asked the question because I wanted to know the answer. Nothing nefarious here. Greg answered the question after I asked it, and completely to my satisfaction.

I took nothing out of context nor did I twist it. I asked a freaking question. I got an answer. End of story.

Then why did you ask me the question? I was responding to another post, and you took one of my sentences out of context, and attempted to twist the meaning of it.

Where did you ask that question? I am not a city resident but I think you are being extremely harsh.

What improvements, specifically, would you make in Manassas that reflects quality of life investment?

In fairness to the city, it is surrounded by Prince William County and there is no potential for expansion. I suggest if the housing is inadequate in Manassas City, move out to the Gainesville/Haymarket area. You can pay three quarters of a million on up for your house and if you look in the right area, get a decent sized lot.

Most of us in the general area consider the city our ‘home city’ even if we don’t actually live in the jurisdiction. It is quaint, cute, and historic.

Perhaps a little pride would make up for the fact that your taxes aren’t higher. Get involved in a beautify Manassas organization. I am sure some of the old guard over on Grant Avenue and in the Pill Hill area would welcome the additional help.

Dolph

And I was responding to the comment made by you at 1042 over IF.

I and not participating in the discussion between you and TH.

For the same reason other criminals are not being discussed in this thread. If there is a thread about welfare cheats, then I will post about it. I do not see an issue with talking about welfare cheats where it is appropriate, but this is a thread about illegal aliens.

Overcrowding is not really allowed here either, but it still happens. I find it hard to believe there are not overcrowded homes in your area. Montgomery and PG counties put the welcome mat out for illegals.

I was responding to a specfic question from TH. I am lucky that I do not live next to illegals. I’m sure there are a few in my neighborhood, since there are 250K(as estimated by the hispanic Pew resource center) in Va.

?????? I am not saying you do or you don’t. I asked how you tell if they are legal or not. It was a serious question, not a criticism of you. The question has been answered already anyway…..you can’t know for sure but you have good indicators. I thought perhaps someone knew a sure fired way and would share it with me.

I said IF I “DO” have illegals living next to me….. The word IF makes a big difference in a sentence.

You have to ask yourself the question, was it a stupid decision on their part? The United States has all but sent out engraved invitations to come here, regardless of route. Once you get here, you can send your kids to school, get them free breakfast and lunch, provide them with free tutoring, tap into medical care, for free. If you aren’t making it, you can get public assistance. You can pool your resources with others from your culture to make ends meet…the list goes on.

I blame the government for issuing the invitation and the accommodations rather than the people who come here. Now, if those said people have an attitude, then naturally, I blame them. That is another issue.

I may not like the end result of the decision but I sure see why the decision was made. Looking at the big picture, it makes me ask, who was stupid? Our system or them?

You and I are neighbors but not real close neighbors. I simply cannot tell but I also have not had any serious problems in my end of the ‘hood, at least not problems I am aware of. In fact, we have been very fortunate. The newer families have more than conformed to community standards. Like you, I assume these folks are not flying under the radar. I did a neighborhood drive by this morning, after taking my daughter to the airport. It was early and most people were still asleep, so I do know exactly what you are talking about with the cars.

I am also no stranger to the hispanic community….occupationally speaking. I cannot tell there either, unless I am told. I can surmise….from things said but I dont know. It has been several years since I have been outright told.

The one bit of knowledge I have acquired (keeping my ear to the ground) is that often families are blended. One spouse is documented, one is not. Usually it is the male who is documented. Naturally the kids are blended, depending on age.

Let’s say you have an overcrowded house next to you, with lots of vehicles that are licensed out of state for months on end, where the residents are clearly not American citizens and don’t speak english. Although there may well be instances where these are legal residents, such instances are exceedingly rare in my experience.

There are legal immigrants in my neighborhood, and their behavior is starkly different. Although there is always a possibility that residents might be mis-identified, the behavior patterns seem to be pretty consistent to many of us who are faced with this on a consistent basis.